We are concerned by online reader comments posted in response to stories about the Lopez Island teen charged with vehicular homicide and assault in the death of a jogger and the injury of two other people.
Some comments report hearsay as evidence. Most, if not all, comments have tried and convicted him.
Emotions are understandable and opinions are inevitable: a man is dead, a little girl lost part of a finger, another teen is recovering from serious injuries.
People have a right to express their opinions, but they should respect the judicial process. Each of us has a constitutionally protected right to a fair trial. Each of us, when accused of a crime, is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty. Facts will be presented, testimony will be given, and all evidence will be weighed at a public trial.
In other words: a person accused of a crime must be proven guilty in a court of law, not proven guilty in the court of public opinion. (The court of online comment, where no name is required to post an opinion, reminds us of the “Wild West” justice system, where an accused might be hanged before trial.)
That being said, we do have one bone to pick with this case. We think the teen should be tried as an adult. Because he is being tried as a juvenile, the maximum sentence he could receive doesn’t fit the crime. His extreme negligence resulted in death and serious injury. Fifteen to 36 weeks in a detention hall just doesn’t cut it, especially if we want other teens to be fearful of the consequences of such egregious law-breaking.
But the prosecutor is moving ahead with what he feels is appropriate, and we have to let justice take its course. We do agree with one online commenter: “Have faith that our justice system (such as it is) will do as it’s designed to do.”
The ability to post comments regarding stories is a powerful communication tool that can foster dialogue on issues of the day. But we should use that communication tool responsibly, and not in a manner that can jeopardize the community’s ability to fairly try someone accused of a crime.
